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Scoliosis is a condition where the spine is curved, most commonly in an "s"-shape, or sometimes twisted, causing deformity and arm/leg length irregularities. Often, it is not discovered until puberty, when hormonal growth spurts can cause the spine to bend one side to the other, especially if good posture is not regularly practiced. In others, it can be genetically predisposed, present at birth. It is also possible for scoliosis to occur as a result of an accident or other medical conditions.

When a person suffers from scoliosis, there can be mild to severe pain involved, depending on where the curvatures are and how severe they are. Anything from muscle spasms, to spinal pain, limping, rib soreness and problems breathing, standing, walking, sitting, back humps, tingling, or numbness can all occur.

As a scoliosis sufferer myself, I spent years with a slight limp, while my clothes never quite fit. My parents always thought I was not keeping proper posture, and would often try to "correct" the way I was standing or sitting. As I reached puberty, my doctor discovered my spine was somewhat curved in my upper and lower back. At that time, my parents chose to let me see if I would grow out of it, rather than using a brace. But through the years, I had spasms in my hips, which my parents always chalked up to "growing pains" up until it got so bad that sometimes I was not able to support my weight with my legs, which happened quite suddenly for hours at a time when I was in high school. No amount of pain relievers or creams could help.

It was only when I was 22 years old that I went to a chiropractor to seek long-lasting relief. That's when we discovered how much worse my condition had become - to where my spine was not only curved, but rotated. The worst spots were my upper back between my shoulder blades, giving me a small hump, and my pelvis (which explained my hip pains). The first few times I had my back adjusted were very painful, because my muscles were not used to being properly supporting my spine. Muscle spasms, soreness, and stiffness were common until I began a strict weight-lifting and exercise regimen designed for back-strengthening. Over time, my back became able to hold proper posture more easily, where I went from needing adjustments 2 times a week, to 2 times a month, and eventually once every 5 weeks. It's not always been possible for me to maintain regular visits, but I've learned to relax my back with yogic poses and gentle stretches.

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